Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-08-06
AN OCEAN RACE.

Al Na8 VI No OF forget which
now, was mate Of the schooner Wellington,
2Is tons register, in the Bermuda trade. At
that time our vessel was comparatively new,
having only been in commission about a year,
and was considerably ahead Of anything else
in that trade III the way OF speed. We had a
first rate captain and a good crew, whose
personnel was superior 10 the majority of
coaster crews; also we were better manned
for our size than most OF those vessels are,
and our owners we're liberal in everything
conducive 20 the comfort Of the men. The
Wellington had the record OF the fastest pas
sage from Bermuda. and we we're all proud
Of our beautiful schooner
During the winter sundry rumors we're
afoat Of vessel building in Boston for a
rival firm ~ produce dealers, OF about our
tonnage, and, a. IL was supposed she was TO
be put on the line at the opening Of the sea-
son Of which am writing
On arriving at New York from our first
trip Of the year, Wa heard that the Iayincible
for 20 had her owners named herr bad ar
rived from Boston, been put In commission
and cleared for Bermuda the day previous
She apparently beauty and our cap
tain was very anxious 10 try conclusions
with her, but somehow il seemed a difficult
matter TO get trial, and during the busy
season all rivalry had 20 give vay to the
pressure Of business.
However, patient waiting was at length re
warded, and, one day alter ws hal finished
unloading and we're awaiting orders, the
skipper came aboard with his weather beaten
face all aglow with excitement We've got
a chance to show our mettle at last, Joe, y he
said, as he joined me ON the deck. "Smith a.
Co. Jour owners) have heard good deal Of
uln hat
advice about putting up $1,000 or 81 900 ON
the Wellington. / told them that had not
tried her against the Inyincible at all yet.
but, from what / had seen of the latter,
thought we could win his money for him.
Anyway we would try mighty hard. So he
has taken a bet of Browns the Invincible's
owner Of $500 for a race from our pier.
around Bermuda and back, the start to take
place week today"
This was short notice to prepare for race
with vessel just off the stocks and clean be-
loS the water as a pin Nevertheless,
we set to work with WILL and that very
evening had her hauled up and gang of
men cleaning her bottom, the crew, under
my directions, seeing to her rigging and
spars.
Monday was the dsv fixed for the start,
and on Saturday at noon we tied I'D at
Smiths pier ready ana anxious for Monday
to come.
good twenty four hours rest after the
exertions of the week prepared the crew for
anything, and on the call for ''all hands" in
the morning as fine and sailor like looking
let OF men trod the deck as ever manned a
coaster of our tonnage
The start was to be by powder flash from
opposite our pier in the North river at 10
O'Clock a. m, so as to get the ebb tide through
the Narrows. By $50 both vessels were
maneuvering about the line for start.
standing back and forth across the river I'M
der all their canvas the breeze being of fair
strength from the south. The Invncible was
e beautiful craft to look at, and had my
doubts as to our victory for win we must)
being an easy one as watched the way she
plowed through the sunllt waters, although
not being sailed fall half the time.
Our skipper stood near the helm, watch in
hand, the rest of the crew being at their
posts, ready for the beat down the upper bay
and through the Narrows.
At precisely thirty seconds before 10 our
captain again measured with his eye our dis
lance above the line, replaced his watch in
his pocket and gave orders for the start:
"Stand by to haul your wnd-luf you may,
now-fatten all sheets fore and aft" and, as
the helm was put down and sheets hauled in,
the good schooner wilmington came up to the
wind in beautiful style and lay over at an
angle that showed she meant business as she
headed for the line on the starboard tack.
Keep her full, now roared the skipper,
"another pull on that fore sheet-so, that will
do" and as a cloud of smoke rose from the
end of the pier showing that time was up,
d1g ha limo oh Of Nup riyo
who crossed on the port tack several seconds
later Down the upper bay we sped, keep
ing almost tack and tack, through the Mar
rows, past Forts Hamilton and Lafayette and
out into the waters of the lower bay. Then
breeze from the east brought the wind abealn
sheets We're started, and, with the Inyincibfa
a couple Of cables lengths astern and to wind
ward, we reached down for Sandy Hook The
buoys inside the Hook were rounded soon
after l o'clock p m, and we settled down for
beat out to the lghtship. That was rounded
IN due order, and with fresh breeze blowing
east by north the two schooners were headed,
close hauled on the port tack, ON a southeast
course for Bermuda, and the race had fairly
begun. Our position was now about three
quarters of mile to eeward of the other
craft, which gain she had made in the beat
out TO the lightship we having almost lost the
wind when under the Hook. There was a
choppy on, the increasing wind crossing
the long Atlantic swell and kicking up con-
siderable OF pothsr, and once clear OF land,
and at the mercy of the "rolling forties, the
schooner began to get pretty lively. The sky
had become overcast, the clouds seemed to be
getting lower, and the wind increased as it
gradually headed US off, and it began to as
sumo the appearance Of what would now lie
called "euttcr weather."
was watching the other vessel through a
glass when | saw her lutf and come up in the
wind. "Shes taking il her top,'l-, shouted,
and when she fell off and again headed ON her
course it was under mains'l, and forsel and
the jib only, and even then seemed to lave
all the sail She wanted
And indeed II was high time we Were do